Total live cattle exports fall 24.5% in 2015 – Weanling exports back by 7,500 head

The total number of live weanling exports have dropped by 7,490 from January 1 to October 31 compared to the same period in 2014, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

These figures indicate that total live exports of these animals have dropped by 29%, however despite this drop it is not as severe as the drop experienced up to October 17, when 33% fewer weanlings were exported.

These figures from the Department of Agriculture and presented by Bord Bia also indicate that the total number of store cattle exports have also dropped by 53.6% or 20,869 head.

There has also been a substantial drop in finished cattle exports, with 49,883 of these animals exported to October 31, which represents a drop of 16.1% or 8,033 on the same period last year.

Total live cattle exports have also dropped by 24.3% which equates to 52,503 less cattle to October 31, this year, it says.

Live Exports To Continental Europe

According to these figures from the Department of Agriculture, total live cattle exports to continental Europe have dropped by 34,456 head or 24.8%.

The largest drops have occurred in Spain (15,259), Italy (6,081) and Belgium (21,196), while live cattle exports to Britain have also fallen by 6,771 head or 45.6%.

However, despite the fall of live cattle exports to continental Europe, increases have been recorded in both Northern Ireland and France.

Live cattle exports to Northern Ireland have increased by 6.2% or 2,710 head, while exports to France have increased by 3,211 head or 60.7%.

Total Non-EU Live Cattle Exports

Total live cattle exports to non-EU markets have dropped by 77.5% (13,949), these figures show.

The cessation of Irish exports to Libya, as a result of political turmoil is for the most part to blame for this fall in exports.

According to the Department of Agriculture, 433 Irish cattle made it to the Middle Eastern state in 2015, this fell from 14,150 in 2014.

Exports to the Lebanon have fallen by 68 head, while exports to Tunisia have increased by 421 to reach 3,304 head.